Questions and Answers
Who provides Home and Hospital Teaching ?
Instruction is provided by part-time MCPS teachers who are assigned to students by the Home and Hospital Teaching Office. Home and Hospital Teaching is a unit of the Department of Special Education and Student Services.
Who is eligible for Home and Hospital Teaching?
There are several criteria for eligibility:
Physical Condition
To be eligible for home and hospital teaching, a student must be under the continuing care of a physician who states in writing that the student is unable to attend school, is not contagious or infectious, and can expect to be out of school for four weeks or longer.
Following childbirth a student may receive six weeks of HHT instruction.
Emotional Condition
The need for home and hospital teaching for an emotional condition must be stated in writing by a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist or MCPS school psychologist. The MCPS school psychologist is required to review the application signed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. The approved application is good for 60 calendar days. State regulations permit renewal for one additional 60 day period with reverification by the treating doctor.
How long does a student have to be out of school before receiving Home and Hospital Teaching?
A student does not need to be out of school a certain period of time before receiving home and hospital teaching, but the attending physician must anticipate an absence from school of four weeks or longer from date of referral to the Home and Hospital Teaching office.
How do I apply for Home and Hospital Teaching?
Requests for services are made directly to the Home and Hospital Teaching Office by application using the appropriate form:
- Physical reason(s): MCPS Form 311-15 OR
- Emotional reason(s): MCPS Form 311-15e
For more information refer to the Parent/Guardian Letter and the Health Care Provider Letter.
All applications must be signed by a parent/guardian and certifying professional. When the application is completed and returned to the Home and Hospital Teaching Office for approval, teaching will begin within 10 school days.
Applications may also be obtained from the Home and Hospital Teaching Office.
How is the School of Enrollment kept involved?
Home and Hospital Teaching works collaboratively with school of enrollment to meet the student’s needs. When a student is enrolled in home and hospital teaching, the school of enrollment is notified in writing.
The home and hospital teacher works with school staff to obtain books, assignments, and other items necessary for the student to meet course objectives. Students remain enrolled at school of enrollment and are marked present while receiving home and hospital teaching. To facilitate reentry to school, the school of enrollment retains responsibility for course assignments, report card grades, credit determination, and counseling services.
Grades students earn during the period of home and hospital teaching are sent to school of enrollment at the end of teaching time.
What is the role of the IEP team when determining a student with a disability may require Home and Hospital Teaching ?
Once a licensed physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist verifies a student is unable to attend school because of a physical or emotional condition, the IEP team is required to meet to reflect the change in placement, identify any IEP goals for home and hospital teaching, and address the need for accommodations and any additional services. Submit a copy of student's IEP, MCPS Form 336-54 , and completed application to the Home and Hospital Teaching office.
Can a student be enrolled both in home school and Home and Hospital Teaching at the same time?
Concurrent enrollment is possible for students in Home and Hospital Teaching. When coordinated by the school and the Home and Hospital Teaching Office, students may attend school and receive home and hospital teaching while undergoing treatment.
How are parents informed of their child’s academic progress during the time enrolled in Home and Hospital Teaching?
At the end of a grading period and/or when the student returns to school, grades covering the period in which the student was enrolled in home and hospital teaching are sent to the parents and to the school last attended for inclusion in the student’s record. The student’s school makes final determination of report card grades.
Last updated September 18, 2009 | Webmaster
